Faheem Ashraf – Pakistan Super League to groom a new talent

Pakistan Super League is scheduled to take place in February 2018. There is an inclusion of new team tagged with Multan Sultan. So, now there will be six teams in HBL PSL 2018. Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi are the winners of 1st and 2nd editions respectively. Whereas, Quetta was the unluckiest team in both edition, they went through finals but couldn’t make up to the winning team. On the other hand, Lahore Qalandar was eliminated first in both editions. Promising cricketers who have shown the performances in the domestic tournaments and in an International team would be a part of HBL PSL 2018 for the first time.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf is one of them. He has played some good innings and bowled really well in the last series against Sri Lanka. He became the first Pakistani bowler to take a hat-trick in 20 overs match. He made this record in the second last over of the game and in the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. It was his third T20I match. He took the wickets of Udana, Udawatte and Shanaka and registered three wickets for 16 runs in three overs. Faheem Ashraf is the sixth bowler in the history of T20I who has taken three wickets in three consecutive balls. Not only this, none of any Pakistani bowler has taken a hat-trick in an International match for last 15 years.

Let’s have a quick glance in his 4 matches T20I career. He made his T20I debut this year against World XI. He just faced a single ball and bowled a single over for 7 runs. Pakistan won that match by 20 runs. In the second match, he took a single wicket for 6 runs in 2 overs against Sri Lanka and couldn’t got a chance to bat as target was successfully achieved by middle order batsman. In third international match, he has shown remarkable performance by taking a hat-trick. In his recent match, he has taken two wickets for 19 runs and smashed two beautiful sixes. He has shown himself as a good all-rounder but key point is to continue his performances, to maintain his fitness and to work hard as single successful series isn’t not enough.

Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood was pretty happy and pleased with his performances and he believed that, Faheem Ashraf has the ability to overshadow him (Azhar Mehmood) and Abdul Razzaq. Azhar Mehmood further added; “What a player Faheem has proved to be! When I first saw him in the emerging players camp, I knew that this guy had the potential to be the very best. He is a fantastic talent who has the skills and the desire to improve and work hard. I feel that cricket is all about confidence, and if given that confidence, Faheem has the potential to become an excellent all-rounder.”

May be any Franchise has eye on him and would pick him in drafts. That would be confirmed on Sunday. Let’s hope, he would continue his good performances in HBL PSL 2018 and in further tournaments.